by Warrior Maven
There are currently a attain of possibilities beingness analyzed past times the Army, most of which hang inward the residue of only how speedily sure technologies tin mature.
Newer lightweight armor composites or Active Protection Systems may non evolve fast plenty to address the most advanced emerging threats, Schirmer explained.
While many Army weapons developers oft admit that their are limitations to only how much a 1980s-era Abrams tank tin move upgraded, the platform has made quantum leaps inward technological sophistication as well as combat technology.
“Until engineering scientific discipline matures nosotros are going to mature the Abrams platform,” Schirmer said. We would demand an APS that could defeat long-rod penetrators.(kinetic unloosen energy armor penetrating weapons) -- that powerfulness enable us to become lighter,” Schirmer said.
A 2014 essay from the Institute for Defense Analysis called "M1 Abrams, Today as well as Tomorrow," reinforces Schirmer's indicate past times detailing the rapid evolution of advanced armor-piercing anti-tank weapons. The enquiry points out that, for instance, hybrid forces such every bit Hezbollah had some success against Israeli Merkava tanks inward 2006.
Therefore, GD as well as Army developers instruct out along to upgrade the Abrams as well as pursue innovations which volition enable the Abrams to address these kinds of evolving threats - such every bit the long-range kinetic unloosen energy penetrator rods Schirmer mentioned; ane of the commutation areas of emphasis for this would move to prepare a to a greater extent than expansive Active Protection System able to knock out a much wider attain of onset possibilities - beyond RPGs as well as sure Anti-Tank Guided Missiles.
The essay goes on to emphasize that the armored primary battle tank convey unparalleled advantages to combat, inward component past times bringing powerful land-attack options inward threat environments where advanced air defenses powerfulness brand it hard for air assets to operate.
Using estimator algorithms, burn command technology, sensors as well as an interceptor of some kind, Active Protection Systems are engineered to detect, rail as well as destroy incoming enemy burn inward a thing of milliseconds. Many Abrams tanks are already equipped amongst a organisation known every bit “Trophy” which tracks as well as knocks out incoming enemy fire.
A next-gen APS engineering scientific discipline that tin induce got out the most sophisticated enemy threats could enable the Army to engineer a much lighter weight tank, spell even thence maintaining the requisite protection.
For these as well as other reasons, the combat-tested Abrams weapons, armor as well as onset engineering scientific discipline volition move extremely hard to replicate or stand upwards for inward a novel platform. Furthermore, the electrical current Abrams is almost an solely novel platform these days - inward lite of how much it has been upgraded to address modern combat challenges.
In short, regardless which hereafter path is arrived upon past times the Army - the Abrams is non going anywhere for many years to come. In fact, the Army as well as General Dynamics Land Systems induce got already engineered as well as delivered a new, massively improved, M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams. Concurrently, service as well as manufacture developers are progressing amongst an fifty-fifty to a greater extent than advanced v4 model - featuring a massive “lethality upgrade.”
All this beingness the case, when it comes to a hereafter tank platform -- all options are even thence on the table.
“Abrams volition move out at that spot for some time. We are funded from the v3 through the v4, but at that spot is a idea inward hear that nosotros may demand to shift gears,” David Marck, Program managing director for the Main Battle Tank, told a modest grouping of reporters at the Association of the States Army Annual Symposium. “I induce got no requirements for a replacement tank.”
Accordingly, some of the details, technologies as well as applications intended for the v4, are even thence inward flux.
“The Army has some decisions to make. Will the v4 move an improved v3 amongst 3rd-Gen FLIR, or volition the Army withdraw the turret as well as build inward an autoloader - trim back the crew size?” Michael Peck, Director, Enterprise Business Development, GD, told Warrior Maven inward an interview.
Also, ongoing piece of job on NGCV could, to a large extent, move integrated amongst Abrams v4 exploration, Peck explained. GD is preparing options to nowadays to the Army for input - such every bit options using a mutual lighter-weight chassis amongst interchangeable elements such every bit dissimilar turrets or an auto-loader, depending upon the threat.
“There are some things that nosotros recall nosotros would exercise to brand the electrical current chassis lighter to a greater extent than nimble when it comes to crew size as well as electronics - eventually it may become on a 55-ton platform. We induce got a couplet dissimilar interchangeable turrets, which nosotros could swap every bit needed,” Peck asked.
Despite the speed, mobility as well as transportable powerfulness challenges known to encumber the electrical current Abrams, the vehicle continues to move impactful inward combat circumstances - as well as developers induce got sought to retain the technical sophistication designed to outmatch or counter adversaries.
“Today’s tank is thence dissimilar than the tanks that took Baghdad. They were non digitized, did non induce got 1st-Gen FLIR as well as did non induce got commander’s independent viewers,” Marck said.
Next-Generation Combat Vehicle
The massive acceleration of the Army hereafter armored platform - the Next Generation Combat Vehicle - is also informing the fast-moving calculus regarding hereafter tank possibilities.
Maj. Gen. Brian Cummings, Program Executive Officer for Ground Combat, told Warrior Maven inward an interview the Army developers are working on both near-term as well as longer term plans; he said it was solely possible that a hereafter tank or tank-like combat vehicle could emerge out of the NGCV program.
“We desire to instruct every bit much capability every bit speedily every bit nosotros can, to remain higher upwards parity amongst our adversaries,” Cummings said.
The program, which has straightaway been moved frontward past times nearly a decade, could probable evolve into a household unit of measurement of vehicles as well as volition definitely induce got unmanned technology.
“Right straightaway nosotros are trying to instruct the replacement for the Bradley to move the commencement optionally manned fighting vehicle. As nosotros instruct that capability nosotros may facial expression at engineering scientific discipline that nosotros are getting inward the hereafter as well as insert them into electrical current platforms,” Cummings said.
Any novel tank volition move specifically engineered amongst additional infinite for automotive systems, people as well as ammunition. Also, every bit estimator algorithms rapidly advance to allow for greater levels of autonomy, the Abrams tank volition move able to control
Unmanned “wing-man” type drones could fortify attacking the world forces past times firing weapons, testing enemy defenses, carrying suppliers or performing frontward reconnaissance as well as reconnaissance missions spell manned-crews remained dorsum at safer distances.nearby drones using its ain on-board command as well as command networking, service developers said.
Photo: General Dynamics Land Systems Griffin III Next Gen Combat Vehicle
However, spell clearly emphasizing the importance of unmanned technology, Schirmer did say at that spot was even thence room for growth as well as technological advanced necessary to replicate or come upwards unopen to many human functions.
“It is non impossible - but it is a long means away,” Schirmer said.
The most advanced algorithms enabling autonomy are, sure inward the nearer term, are probable to succeed inward performing procedural functions able to ease the “cognitive burden” of manned crews who would as well as then move freed upwards to focus on to a greater extent than pressing combat-oriented tasks. Essentially, the powerfulness of human knowledge to brand dynamic decisions amid fast-changing variable, as well as brand to a greater extent than subjective determinations less calculable past times estimator technology. Nonetheless, autonomy, peculiarly when enabled past times AI, tin condense as well as organize combat-essential information such every bit sensor information, targeting engineering scientific discipline or sure crucial maintenance functions.
“Typically a vehicle commander is even thence looking through multiple soda straws. If no ane has their concealment turned to that view, that information is non of utilization to the crew, AI tin procedure all those streams of ones as well as zeroes as well as convey the crews’ attending to threats they may non otherwise see,” Schirmer said.
Abrams v3 as well as v4 upgrades
Meanwhile, the Army is straightaway edifice the side past times side versions of the Abrams tank – an seek which advances on-board power, electronics, computing, sensors, weapons as well as protection to address the prospect of massive, mechanized, force-on-force peachy powerfulness solid ground state of war inward coming decades, officials amongst the Army’s Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems told Warrior Maven.
The commencement MIA2 SEP v3 tank, which includes a massive electronics, mobility as well as sensor upgrades, was delivered past times General Dynamics Land Systems final year.
“The Army's ultimate intent is to upgrade the entire fleet of M1A2 vehicles -- at this time, over 1,500 tanks,” an Army official told Warrior.
The commencement v3 airplane pilot vehicles volition characteristic technological advancements inward communications, reliability, sustainment as well as fuel efficiency as well as upgraded armor.
This electrical current mobility as well as powerfulness upgrade, amid other things, adds an auxiliary powerfulness unit of measurement for fuel efficiency as well as on-board electrical systems, improved armor materials, upgraded engines as well as transmission as well as a 28-volt upgraded sweat system, GDLS developers said.
In add-on to receiving a mutual high-resolution display for gunner as well as commander stations, some of the electrical current electronics, called Line Replaceable Units, were replaced amongst novel Line Replaceable Modules. This includes a commander’s display unit, driver’s command panel, gunner’s command panel, turret command unit of measurement as well as a mutual high-resolution display, developers from General Dynamics Land Systems say.
Facilitating continued upgrades, innovations as well as modernization efforts for the Abrams inward years to come upwards is the regulation rationale upon which the Line Replacement Modules is based. It encompasses the much-discussed “open architecture” approach wherein computing standards, electronics, hardware as well as software systems tin efficently move integrated amongst novel technologies every bit they emerge.
This M1A2 SEP v3 seek also initiates the integration of upgraded ammunition information links as well as electronic warfare devices such every bit the Counter Remote Controlled Improvised Explosive Device – Electronic Warfare – CREW. An increased AMPs alternator is also component of this upgrade, along amongst Ethernet cables designed to amend network vehicle sensors together.
The Abrams is also expected to instruct an advanced force-tracking organisation which uses GPS engineering scientific discipline to rapidly update digital moving map displays amongst icons showing friendly as well as enemy forcefulness positions.
The system, called Joint Battle Command Platform, uses an extremely fast Blue Force Tracker 2 Satcom network able to trim back latency as well as massively shorten refresh time. Having rapid force-position updates inward a fast-moving combat circumstance, quite naturally, could convey decisive advantages inward both mechanized as well as counterinsurgency warfare.
Using a moving digital map display, JBCP shows blueish as well as carmine icons, indicating where friendly as well as enemy forces are operating inward relation to the surrounding battle infinite as well as terrain. JBCP also include an word database, called TIGR, which contains essential information most threats as well as prior incidents inward specific combat ares.
Current GD evolution deals also advances a commensurate seek to blueprint as well as create as well as fifty-fifty to a greater extent than advanced M1A2 SEP v4 Abrams tank variant for the 2020s as well as beyond.
The v4 is designed to move to a greater extent than lethal, amend protected, equipped amongst novel sensors as well as armed amongst upgraded, to a greater extent than effective weapons, service officials said.
SEPv4 upgrades include the Commander’s Primary Sight, an improved Gunner’s Primary Sight as well as enhancements to sensors, lethality as well as survivability.
Advanced networking engineering scientific discipline amongst next-generation sights, sensors, targeting systems as well as digital networking engineering scientific discipline -- are all commutation elements of an ongoing upgrade to seat the platform to successfully engage inward combat against rapidly emerging threats, such every bit the prospect of confronting a Russian T-14 Armata or Chinese 3rd generation Type 99 tank.
Russian T-14 Armata
Interestingly, when asked most specific States Army concerns regarding the much-hyped high-tech Russian T-14 Armata, Schirmer said the Army would pursue its electrical current modernization programme regardless of the existence of the Armata. That beingness said, it is for certain a prophylactic supposition to recognize that the States Army is acutely aware, to the best of its ability, of the most advanced tanks inward existence.
The SEP v4 variant, slated to beingness testing inward 2021, volition include novel Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation rangefinder technology, coloring cameras, integrated on-board networks, novel slip-rings, advanced meteorological sensors, ammunition information links, Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation alert receivers as well as a far to a greater extent than lethal, multi-purpose 120mm tank round, Army developers told Warrior.
While Army officials explicate that many of the details of the next-gen systems for the hereafter tanks are non available for safety reasons, Army developers did explicate that the lethality upgrade, referred to every bit an Engineering Change Proposal, or ECP, is centered roughly the integration of a higher-tech 3rd generation FLIR – Forward Looking Infrared imaging sensor.
The advanced FLIR uses higher resolution as well as digital imaging along amongst an increased powerfulness to break enemy signatures at further ranges through diverse obscurants such every bit rain, dust or fog, Army official said.
Improved FLIR technologies aid tank crews amend recognize lite as well as oestrus signatures emerging from targets such every bit enemy sensors, electronic signals or enemy vehicles. This enhancement provides an additional property to a tank commander’s independent thermal viewer.
Rear sentiment sensors as well as Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation detection systems are component of these v4 upgrades every bit well. Also, newly configured meteorological sensors volition amend enable Abrams tanks to anticipate as well as suit to changing atmospheric condition or combat conditions to a greater extent than quickly, Army officials said.
The emerging M1A2 SEP v4 volition also move configured amongst a novel slip-ring leading to the turret as well as on-board ethernet switch to trim back the position out of needed “boxes” past times networking sensors to ane some other inward a unmarried vehicle.
Advanced Multi-Purpose Round
The M1A2 SEP v4 volition carry Advanced Multi-Purpose 120mm ammunition circular able to combine a diverseness of dissimilar rounds into a unmarried tank round.
The AMP circular volition supplant 4 tank rounds straightaway inward use. The commencement 2 are the M830, High Explosive Anti-Tank, or HEAT, circular as well as the M830A1, Multi-Purpose Anti -Tank, or MPAT, round.
The latter circular was introduced inward 1993 to engage as well as defeat enemy helicopters, specifically the Russian Hind helicopter, Army developers explained. The MPAT circular has a two-position fuse, the world as well as air, that must move manually set, an Army disputation said.
The M1028 Canister circular is the 3rd tank circular beingness replaced. The Canister circular was commencement introduced inward 2005 past times the Army to engage as well as defeat dismounted Infantry, specifically to defeat close-in human-wave assaults. Canister rounds disperse a wide-range of scattering modest projectiles to increment anti-personnel lethality and, for example, destroy groups of private enemy fighters.
The M908, Obstacle Reduction round, is the 4th that the AMP circular volition replace; it was designed to assist inward destroying large obstacles positioned on roads past times the enemy to block advancing mounted forces, Army statements report.
AMP also provides 2 additional capabilities: defeat of enemy dismounts, especially enemy anti-tank guided missile, or ATMG, teams at a distance, as well as breaching walls inward back upwards of dismounted Infantry operations
A novel ammunition information link volition aid tank crews create upwards one's hear which circular is best suited for a particular given attack.
The Institute for Defense Analysis written report also makes the instance for the continued relevance as well as combat necessity for a primary battle tank. The Abrams tank proven effective both every bit a deterrent inward the Fulda Gap during the Cold War, waged state of war amongst peachy success inward Republic of Iraq inward 1991 as well as 2003 - but it has also expanded it sphere of operational utility past times proving valuable inward counterinsurgency operations every bit well.
The IDA essay goes on to emphasize that the armored primary battle tank brings unparalleled advantages to combat, inward component past times bringing powerful land-attack options inward threat environments where advanced air defenses powerfulness brand it hard for air assets to operate as well as comport attacks. .
---Osborn previously served at the Pentagon every bit a Highly Qualified Expert amongst the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army - Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked every bit a correspondent for Fox News as well as an anchor as well as on-air armed forces specialist at CNN as well as CNN Headline News
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